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Big protest marches in Moscow today, and they are calling out Putin by name. For 20 years he has used repression, propaganda, and war to blame others for Russia's crisis.
Putin's machine of internal repression is very strong today, made infinitely stronger by the weak international pressure over his war crimes and human rights abuses. But history shows that dictatorships are have crystalline structures, strong but brittle.
People are being beaten in the streets in Moscow for protesting the farce of Putin's democracy charade. They may even gain a few token concessions for their blood and freedom.
Unless they risk their lives in the millions, it won't be enough thanks to how much international financial support Putin & his buddies enjoy. Russia isn't isolated. Their families & fortunes are safe in Europe & the US while Russians are beaten & jailed.
Putin is still welcomed, even praised, by the world's democratic leaders. Russia isn't treated like the hostile rogue state it has become. As long as that's true, Putin will be seen as the capo, the guarantor of his oligarchs' safety & fortunes.
These brave protesters in Russia are sending a message in blood not just to Putin, but to the European leaders who welcome Putin's brutal regime with open arms and open pockets.
